Baldwin County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Baldwin County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Coopers Lake rezoning in Rosington
Over 1,200 residents signed a petition against rezoning 111 acres of rural agricultural land for estate homes, citing rural character, flooding and consistency concerns. The commission approved it anyway.
Highway 98 RV Park code violation and PRD denial
The Patel Boat and RV Storage project adds six storage buildings on 45 acres near a neighborhood center node, with wetlands preserved behind a 30-foot buffer.
Escambia County hurricane debris in Baldwin landfills
Baldwin will take up to 500,000 cubic yards of Florida hurricane construction debris through December, spread across three landfills, at a special handling rate. One commissioner worried about using up local landfill space.
Gulf Coast Farm agrihood rezoning
The county accepted a notice of intent to request a planning and zoning referendum for Planning District 2, a step toward potentially extending zoning there.
Community donations for parks and holiday events
The Fly High Goose Foundation gave $30,000 for a Live Oak Landing trail and Rayonier pledged $10,000 for Christmas lights at Bicentennial Park.
County Road 55/54 roundabout and Eastern Shore Trail
Engineering design for the CR 55/54 roundabout and the Eastern Shore Trail Extension both moved forward on the consent agenda.
Hurricane Isaias recovery and employee admin leave
The commission lifted the local emergency, adopted the hazard mitigation plan, and fixed confusion over whether employees who worked during storm prep would also get admin leave.
Summerdale Building Inspection Termination
The county is ending the 2023 agreements letting Silverhill and Summerdale handle building permits in their extraterritorial jurisdictions. Silverhill's mayor warned a 38-day cutoff would gut the town's budget mid-year and disrupt permitting; both towns got extensions to December 31, 2026, with 30-day termination clauses.
Floodplain Ordinance Amendment
A small but important fix: mobile homes in mapped flood zones must now build to the actual flood elevation plus one foot, instead of just three feet above ground. This restores the county's CRS flood-insurance discount credit.
Domestic Violence Awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Baldwin County. The Lighthouse serves over 1,500 people a year with shelter, crisis lines, and court advocacy — and leaders asked everyone to spread the word that help exists.
County Road 64 School Zone Speed Limit
The speed limit on County Road 64 will step down from 45 to 35 mph ahead of the new school's 25-mph zone, making the gradual slowdown safer for drivers and kids.
Hurricane Preparedness
EMA Director Tom Tyler warned of 8-11 foot waves and a tropical storm warning for Baldwin and Mobile counties, advising beachgoers to stay out of the water with red flags flying.
180-Day Development Moratorium
Commissioner Underwood asked for a five-to-six-month pause on new zoning cases while the county finishes its new master plan and future land use map. Commissioner McKenzie opposed it, and no vote was taken — but expect this fight to return as the plan nears adoption this fall.
ARC of Baldwin County Decertification
The state Department of Mental Health decertified ARC of Baldwin County, cutting off Medicaid waiver funding for services to residents with intellectual disabilities. The commission sent a resolution of support ahead of a January appeal hearing.
PFAS contamination near Navy airfield
A Harden Lane resident said the Navy tested everyone's water, found PFAS from firefighting foam at the airfield, and residents now use Culligan filters — plus complaints about snakes and coyotes from unkempt Navy land.
County Road 73 safety and drainage near Greenwood Subdivision
A cattle farmer described three crashes where cars without shoulders went into his property, and warned that 400 more vehicles on narrow CR 73 will multiply the danger. Speakers also recalled Hurricane Sally flooding over the CR 73 bridge.
Harden Lane and County Road 36 flooding
Neighbors near the Harden Fields subdivision described chronic flooding — kids reaching the school bus by canoe, driveways washing out during Hurricane Sally, and unaddressed culvert requests. The engineer pledged a ditch inspection within days.
Broadband and Cellular Coverage Gaps in District 2
A 250-foot tower off John Oliver Road should finally fix a Verizon dead zone stretching toward Bay Minette; the landowner hosting it spoke in support.
Animal Shelter Volunteer Program Concerns
A former volunteer alleged safety and management problems at the Baldwin County Animal Shelter and asked commissioners to intervene on humane care standards and a dog day-out program.
ATRIP II Safety Project at Highway 181 and CR 32
Commissioners picked the congested 181/32 intersection near Barnwell — with heavy school and commuter traffic — for the county's state road grant application, passing over Blakeley State Park's entrance request.
Emergency Veterinary Care Access
A Fairhope resident urged the county to help attract an after-hours emergency veterinary clinic, describing a drive to Mobile with his critically ill dog.
C3 Program Twin Beach Road Improvements
The county's new C3 transportation program launched its first project: $5 million in safety upgrades on Twin Beach Road near Fairhope, including a roundabout and school-zone pedestrian improvements, split evenly with the city.
FY 2026-27 budget nearing balance
County revenues are still growing but at a moderating pace, while population growth is driving service and infrastructure costs up faster than income. Staff are telling departments to find efficiencies as budget season kicks off, and shifting short-term project funding to the 30Q debt program.
Goodrich Property Rezoning Near Spanish Fort
417 acres were rezoned for single-family development next to Spanish Fort, despite the city warning about traffic on Jimmy Faulkner Drive, school crowding, drainage, and unresolved access through a neighboring subdivision. The city hopes to annex the land next year.
Morgan Property Rezoning Near Fish River
A family's 153-acre former farm near Fish River was rezoned for a roughly 138-lot subdivision after the developer scaled back from 344 lots. Neighbors worry about flooding and runoff into Fish River.
Heritage oak tree protection
Residents say a 300-400-year-old oak near the McCarty Springs site could be killed by drainage cuts or driveway construction. The applicant's surveyor said there are no plans to remove it, but the county has no authority to protect it in an unzoned area.
McCarty Springs duplex subdivision in Stapleton
Neighbors in Stapleton packed the hearing to oppose three duplex lots on about 1.2 acres, citing traffic, drainage, fire response, and uncertainty about who would move in. Commissioners explained that in an unzoned area, state law forces approval once subdivision rules are met.
Growth and infrastructure strain in Stapleton
A volunteer fire deputy chief warned that rapid growth around Stapleton is outpacing roads, businesses, and a small volunteer fire department, asking for fire prevention features like pre-connects on new construction.
Magnolia Springs coordination on Weeks Bay watershed development
Five new rainfall and river-elevation monitoring stations are in place on the Magnolia and Styx Rivers, funded by Mobile Bay NEP, plus a new stormwater design and review tool with training set for February 12.
Sheriff's Office commendations for crime-solving and water rescues
Deputies were honored for solving 11 vehicle break-ins, a major sex abuse case, and 22 water rescues at Fort Morgan during a dangerous surf event. The county's geo-fenced reverse 911 system helped close the beach and likely saved lives.
Jace Waters Foundation opioid recovery facility funding
Chairman Ball is pushing to direct roughly $500,000 of the $575,000 request in opioid settlement funds to a recovery facility on High Note Glass Road for men completing addiction treatment. The state AG says whether it must be a physical building is a local call.
GoMESA environmental and outdoor project funding
Baldwin County and coastal Alabama are in line for $52 million in federal GoMESA money for environmental and outdoor recreation projects. Think better parks, conservation work, and coastal upgrades near you. It’s federal funding, so it could improve local amenities without a new local tax hike being mentioned.
Correction to solid waste garbage rates
County residential garbage fees jump from $17 to $19 a month starting November 1, driven by a 30% ADEM permit-fee and tipping-fee increase. McKenzie pushed for the county to lobby legislators and for more durable garbage carts.
Stockton zoning election (Planning District 3)
The county accepted a notice of intent to request a referendum on bringing planning and zoning to Planning District 18 — a first step toward residents voting on whether they want zoning there.
CDBG-DR Homeownership Assistance Program launch
Baldwin County is launching a $19 million program on September 21 to help low-to-moderate income households buy homes, covering down payments, closing costs, and rate buy-downs. Public meetings are set for September 15 in Foley and September 16 in Fairhope.
Rebuild Alabama Act gas tax benefit questioned
Commissioners discussed how the 2019 state gas tax hike hasn't boosted Baldwin County much because it's a 'donor county' — most collections flow to less populated counties under the state formula. They want data added to budget materials so the public can see what the county actually gets back.
FY 2027 Rebuild Alabama road and bridge projects
The Commission adopted its FY 2027 transportation plan with six projects, including resurfacing on Pine Grove Road, Lottie Road, County Road 24, and a bridge replacement on Scenic Highway 98 over Point Clear Creek.
Volunteer fire department disaster assistance agreements
New agreements with 30 volunteer fire departments and three search and rescue squads replace the 2023 versions, running 36 months.
Master plan update and new zoning standards for data centers and solar farms
The finished master plan update goes to the commission next month for a recommendation to county commissioners, followed immediately by zoning ordinance revisions — including new design standards for solar farms and data centers.
$1.33 Billion Transportation Capital Need
The county has a ten-year road, intersection, and bridge wish list totaling $1.33 billion — far beyond what current funding can cover. Commissioners will hold work sessions on funding tools, and leaders hinted taxes might ultimately be part of the conversation.
Growth Management and Public Input Process
Nearly every speaker said they learned of the plan only days before the hearing. Commissioners and citizens alike called for a formal engagement platform — town halls, written comment periods, and seats at the table for farmers, realtors, banks, and municipalities.
Loss of a Local Iconic Restaurant
A Baldwin County restaurant operating since 1986 burned down last week. Commissioner McKenzie noted the owner, Eugene Overstreet, is a Purple Heart recipient, and a GoFundMe exists for employees who lost their jobs.
National Purple Heart Day Recognition
Baldwin County is honoring Purple Heart recipients with a proclamation and a big event August 7 at the Daphne Civic Center, drawing recipients from across the country. It's a chance for the community, including youth groups and local JROTC, to honor wounded veterans.
University Scholarship for Former Commissioner Blankenship
The University of South Alabama asked the county for $10,000 toward an endowed scholarship honoring former Conservation Commissioner Blankenship. Commissioners agreed in concept to consider it at the next meeting.
County Procurement Card Program
A new purchasing card policy lets departments buy small items with a card instead of purchase orders, cutting paperwork and eventually earning rebates. A pilot program with online training starts soon.
$10 Million Disaster Line of Credit
The county adopted a $10 million revolving line of credit to cover immediate cash needs after a hurricane or major storm, staying at zero unless used. Officials called it an insurance policy against cash-flow gaps while waiting on FEMA reimbursement.
County Road 65 paving and Hinote Glass Road intersection work
The commission awarded a $2.7 million CDBG-DR grant-funded contract to grade, drain, base and pave County Road 65, and approved a $50,001 change order for intersection improvements at Hinote Glass Road and Highway 59 due to unsuitable soil.
Courthouse and jail construction projects
Big Bay Minette projects hit milestones: the new courthouse sally port and the jail's female housing addition were declared substantially complete, and seven contractors were pre-qualified for the courthouse renovation.
Summerdale zoning push and building regulation agreements
Summerdale leaders warned the town is exposed to unregulated development — data centers, solar farms, pig farms — because surrounding District 18 is unzoned. The commission extended the building-permit agreement to December 31 (planning side not extended) while the town organizes a citizen petition to zone the district.
One-time retiree lump sum payments
Retired sheriff's deputies and county employees who retired before October 1, 2025 will get a one-time bonus payment in October — $34,219 for sheriff's retirees and $90,463 for commission retirees.